Se a

MAYOR SEES JAPANESE ‘SUDETEN’ QUESTION ; IGNORES REAL ISSUE —

FASCIST INFLUENCE IS REAL PRO

By HAL GRIFFIN

JAPANESE “Sudeten” problem ‘that may have to be solved by war.” This is the gloomy picture of British Columbia’s future painted by Mayor George Miller in an inter- view with T. G. Lytle published in the Toronto

Star.

Pointing to Europe, where “national minori- ties are demanding more and more rights,” Mayor Miller declared, “I have no panacea...5 doubt if anyone has. but I do know that some day we may have to face the problem of ‘Sudeten’ Japanese in Canada, a problem that

may have to be solved by war. Right now we face a problem very similar to that Czechoslovaliia.”’

That there is a Japanese problem in BC no one will deny, Mayor Miller’s distorted prevision. It will be found instead, in the alarming inroads made by Japanese capitalist interests into British Columbia’s natural resources without gsovern- ment let or hindrance. It will be found in the Japanese fascist agents active among the Japa- nese population. It will be found in the po- litical and economic influence exerted by the representatives of the Japanese military-fascist

controntins

but it is not to be found in

ruling clique, both official and unofficial, in

this province.

Intimidation and discrimination are weapons used by the Japanese consul, H. Ne- michi, and Japanese fascist agents against the Japanese people in BC. Through the medium of Tairiku Nippo, the big Japanese daily news- paper in Vancouver, a constant stream of pro- fascist propaganda is disseminated.

The Japanese-born are naturally more sus- eeptible to this poison, but even second-senera- tion Japanese are not permitted to remain im- Only recently the Japanese consul is reported to have called certain Japanese stu-

«

mune.

THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1938

Jack Taylor Appointed To Head Friends

Six Thousand Attend Ontario Carnival In Honor Of Returned

Volunteers. RAISE $1200

TORONTO, Ont., Sept. 8.— Jack Taylor, until recently rep- resentative in Barcelona, Spain, of the Friends of the Macken- zie- Papineau Battalion, tas been appointed national secre- tary of that organization, fol- lowing the resignation of Beat- rice Colle, who will. however. continue to act on the national committee.

Both Jack Tayior and Miss Colle Stressed in their reports to the re— cent meeting of the committee the need for building the rehabilitation fund in order te provide mainten- ance and medical attention for yvol- unteers invalided back from Spain.

Monthiy cash donations will in future be sent to Paris for purchase of supplies for volunteers, as this has been found to be the most ef ficient method. Local committees, however, will continue to forward parcels from friends and relatives.

TORONTO, Ont, Sept. 8. — At tended by 6,000 people, the grand carnival staged by the Friends of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion at Eldorado Park in honor of 26 re— turned Spanish veterans was a sreat success. Twelve hundred dol- lars for the rehabilitation fund was raised.

Declaring that “believers in de mocracy should do more than talk about it,’ loggers at Chamis Bay this week forwarded $33.75 to the Friends of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion’s Vancouver office.

Another donor in Victoria sent pwo dollars, stating that she was jividing her contribution between he Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion

and the Highth Route Army in shina. ‘ Other donations received this

week were: Joe Keenan, $3; L. LL, 30; West End branch, Communist marty, $2.10; Gibsons Landing, $2.30.

>

TOWN HALL Ballroom ‘Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 4 OLD-TIME DANCE Wednesday, MODERN DANCE The most beautiful balircom in VYancouver.

Excellent Music Admission |

Housing Issue At

Federation Meet

Will Be

Coming

By ROBERT LEALES The final report of the National Employment Commission recognizes the desirability of a governmental housing policy to provide accommodation for those unable to afford an economic

rent.

After makings a study of the low rental housing plans of other coun-— tries the commission recommended an experimental plan. This pro- posal has now been enacted by the Dominion government in Part 2 of the National Housings Act.

“In meking this recommenda- tion the commission was influenced by the fact that Canadian fovern- mental bodies had expended some $14,000,000 in 1936 to rent accom- miodation for relief recipients, and that in many instances such ac-— commodation was unsuitable in the extreme.” The commission was of the opinion “that such a situa- tion should not be allowed to con- tinue in that it breeds conditions tending to increase unemployment by decreasing the employability of workers, thus making it harder for them: to secure employment.’

Prompt action was proposed by the commission in the housing field because its examination of this problem showed that ‘in the construction industry em- ployment was still at an abnor- mally low level and recovery was lagging badly all over the coun- try im relation to, that experi- enced in other industries.”

Thirty million dollars has now been made available by the Domin- ion government to provide decent, safe and sanitary dwellings for families of low income. Loans at the rate of $5.36 per person on the basis of the 1931 census may be made by a municipality. This means that Vancouver is entitled to a loan of $1,326,670.34.

Toans may be made to private and public bodies, provided the pro- ject has the approval of the muni- cipality, and the Dominion Housing Authority. The private body is re- ferred to in the Act as a limited dividend company because the divi- dends on its shares are limited by law to 5 percent annually. Public bodies as municipalities and socie- ties are known as local housing authorities. The Dominion gov- ernment yill loan 90 percent of the cost of construction to a body which is not a limited dividend company at 2 percent per annum payable half-yearly and 80 percent at 134 percent per annum to a limited dividend company. This means that Vancouver's share of the above loan would amount to $133,677. :

A limited dividend company is

required to keep its average ex L—

penditures for the building of each family unit to $2400 per unit. A local housing committee cannot exceed an average of $2,700 per unit.

ACT DEFINES RENTAL

Hiouses under the plan can be rented to those families only whose incomes are not large enough to afford an economic rental yet are sufficient to pay -the carrying charges of the project. The econo- mic rental is defined by the Act to be a rental at 9146 percent per annum of the cost of construction plus an amount sufficient to pay the ordinary taxes levied by the municipality. If the cost of con- struction is $2,000, the rental value average would be about $20 per month. Such a house or unit could only be rented to a famliy whose total income is equal to or more than five times the economic rental value.

This requires that the plan, to be of the greatest value to the low income people of Vancouver, will have to conform to an average cost of construction. of $1,500. Such a family unit would have a rental value of $17 per month and would be available to people whose avyer- age yearly income-is $1,020. URGE USE OF PLAN

The municipalities haye certain obligations under the Act. They eannot levy taxes on the project to exceed one percent of the cost of construction and must not place any taxes on the limited dividend company.

The plan is experimental, and in spite of shortcomings it should be taken advantage of by all pro- gressive organizations. The BC Federation on Unemployment is encouraging these organizations in localities where housing conditions are bad to work out a project and apply through the muncipality for

2 loan under the Act.

One of the most important points for discussion at the federation’s conference on September 18 will be a Vancouver project around which it will be possible to rally all pro- gressive people and organizations for its fulfilment. the above loan and the average cost of construction unit beins $1,700, Vancouver can build about 770 new homes, alleviate some of the unemployment that exists among the building trades workers and make sanitary and safe dwell- ings available to a greater number of people.

—

“WOUNDED and have RETURNED HOME

These six boys who have returned

from Spain NEED YOUR HELP!

It's Urgent!

ct5S

Send Your Donations to:

Friends of the Mackenzie- Papineau Battalion

Room 43

615 West Hastings Street

WVancouver, B.C.

7 Specialists

In Waving Fine White and Grey Hair

Downing Beauty Shop

130 W. PHONE = =

On the basis of §

City Unions’ Membership Shows Gains

Twelve New Unions Have Been Formed During Past Year, Records Reveal.

STEADY GROWTH

Commenting in its Labor Day issue on the progress made by organized labor in Vancouver during the past year, the Labor Statesman, official organ of Vancouver Trades and Labor Council, states:

“Iwelve unons have been chart- ered in Vancouver since last Labor Day and many other unions have made splendid increases in mem= bershp. A large,.number of agree- ments have been signed without necessity of strikes or lons drawn out conferences.”

The 12 new unions are listed as. Automobile Mechanies, Iocal 1382; Automobile Painters, Tocal 1208; Building Laborers, Local 602; Ce- ment Hinishers, Local 779; Furni- ture Workers, Local 1025; Glass Workers, Local 954: Lathers, Local 207; Plasterers, Local 89; Pursers and Chief Stewards, Local 130; Shipyard Laborers, Local 126; United Garment Workers, Local 190; Upholsterers, Local 306.

“The organized labor movement in Vancouver continues its steady Erowth and is keeping pace with other cities in Canada and the United States, where the movement is also making great strides,’ says the Labor Statesman.

The Teamsters’ Joint composed of the General Drivers’ Union, the Milk Sales— men’s Union, the Bakery Sales- men’s Union and the Taxi Drivers’ Union, increased its membershp by 463 in 1937-38. The Retail Clerks

Council, Truck

Union recorded an increase of over

200 new members and the United Fishermen and the CGivie Em- ployees unions also added more than 200 new members.

Other unions adding substantial- ly te their membership were: Painters and Decorators, Local 138 (125); Bakery and Confectionery Workers (120); Machinists Lodge, 692 (117): WHWotel and Restaurant Employees, Local 28 (100).

California Sends Fruit To Spain

SAN MRANCISCO, Gal, Sept. 8. —The Medical Bureau to Aid Spanish Democracy will ship ten tons of prunes from San Francisco next week, to make part of the cargo of the American Relief Ship to Spain. When the Relief Ship Sails from Ney York at the end of September it will have on board many other California products, such as vitamin concentrates, dried peaches and apricots, all high in food value.

(7

>) Leo Smuntam’s Band now at the

ALEXANDRA -BALLROOM

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, OLD-TIME DANCE Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday MODERN DANCE For a good time be sure to visit these dances. Best music and the finest floor in Canada. | ADMISSION 25e (except Sat.)

NS

7

Only Shoe Repair Store in Vancouver with a Signed Agreement with the Union

NEW METHOD SHOE - -

33/7 Carrall St.

i

into his office the

a rule employ

dents of the University of British Columbia

and placed the “official” Japa-

nese position before them. What is the average Japanese to do? Except in domestic work, white Canadians will not as

a Japanese. He must find em-

ployment among his own people, in Japanese importing and exporting firms, in Japanese mining and logging camps, in the fishing in- dustry,’ in the retail trade or professionally, serving the Japanese people- In every instance, opposition te the “official” Japanese position— in other words, opposition to Japanese military- fascism—endangers his livelihood.

So, even though he does not believe the incessant propa- ganda, even though he wants nothing of Japanese espionage, of intrigue, of fascism, even though he realizes the ‘official’ Japanese position is foreing a sulf between himself and white Canadian workers, the average Japanese is careful not to voice

his opposition.

Chauvinistic statements, such as these made by Mayor Miller in the Toronte Star, serve only to aid the Japanese consul and those others who are working strenuously to weld the Japan- ese people of BC into a powerful instrument of Japanese military- fascism. They serve, too, the pro-tascist elements among white - Canadians who use the Japan- ese, the German and Italian fas- cist movements in this country to further fascism in Canada.

Every chauvinistic attack on the Japanese widens the gulf between Japanese and white workers. Mayor Miller, however, not only attacks the Japanese people with-

cut attempting to differentiate be- tween the fascist elements and the mass of the Japanese people, but skilfully utilizes it to hide his owz failure to assist the single unem- loyed. His implication that Bri- tish Columbia’s unemployment pro- blem would be assisted, if not solved, were it not for Japanese occupying positions in industry and farming which otherwise would be held by whites, is the essence of chauvinism.

“There's the picture,” the told Lytle. “White men out of work— Japanese working. It’s not pretty, but there it tis. Economically this province may eventually be- long to the Japs.”

Japanese Not National Minority

The Japanese economic power to be feared, however, is just that which Mayor Miller ignores. it is just that control over British

Columbia’s natural resources ob- tained by Japanese interests re— presenting the real owners in Japan, aided and abetted by Welson Spencer, the Conservative leader, Col. Victor Spencer, the minins millionaire, and others. And it is precisely this danger to which the provincial government

is deliberately blind. The Japanese people of British

Columbia do not constitute a na- tional minority in the ‘Sudeten” sense any more than the other large emigrant groups that go to the making of the province's cosmopolitan population. But be— cause they and the Chinese have long been subjected te chauvinistic attacks, even violence, stirred up in many cases by the same big busi- mess interests which brought them to Canada in the first place for cheap labor purposes, they have not proven so readily assimilable as other emigrant groups. =

Japanese Fascism Utilizing Chauvinism

Now Japanese military-fas- cism, seeliine Pacific domination, is talking advantage of this anti- Japanese feelings and endeavor- ing to adapt it to its own ends.

When Mayor Miller states there is not a Japanese on Wancouver city relief he is incorrect. There are 30 Japanese and 130 Chinese heads of families on relief in the eity.

Persecuted, the butt of every

politician trying to turn the Orien- tal question to cheap political ad-

Stranglehold Must Be

vantage, the Japanese have learned to cooperate. Their stores prosper because they work through a cen- tral system which provides them with stock and credit. At the same time, it must be admitted that Some of the profit, at least, is fnd— ing its way back to Japan to bol- ster a tottering war economy. Again, the urgent question is that of Japanese military—-fascist influence and the ned for break— ing the economic hold it maintains over the Japanese people in BC.

Broken

Mayor Miller believes “Canada is producing a race of people who don’t want to work hard. The Japs,” he says, “are a good deal like the early pioneers. They are willing to work damned hard, to make sacrifices to get themselves established in a new country.”

But when he attacks the admit- tedly lower Japanese living stan- dard he ignores the fact that the big industrialists of BC use un- organized Japanese labor in pre- ference to organized or even un- organized white labor and are re— sponsible for the maintenance of just these low standards. The Japanese consul and ~pro-fascist Japanese interests, of course, are equally anxious to prevent organ- ization of Japanese workers in any but organizations completely under

ee Se a ES

NEW LION HOTEL

122 EAST HASTINGS STREET

PSE ce Te

SPECIAL! While You Wait ..

rE

Men’s Half Soles and Rubber

Tages Half-Soles os aL Sess : Empire Shoe Repairs genet Hastings Sirect

their own control.

Gnce again the question is the influence of Japanese military- fascism over the mass of the Japanese people. Not until this influence is destroyed will the intimidated Japanese people of BC be free to express their oepin- ions openly, to organize and rea- lize their unanimity of interest with white workers. Not until then will they constitute, not a group driven by chauvinism to become a force Japanese wmili- tary-fascism hopes to use for aggressive purposes, but a force for progress in the democratic

front of all Canadians fightine to preserve and extend Canadian democratic institutions against

the menace of fascism.

HASTINGS BAKERY

High. 3244

716 East Hastings Street

4068 East Hastings Street 1709 Commercial Drive

s Quality Products at Rioderate Prices

We Deliver to Fast End and Grandview Homes

t<) ““‘Thrifty Housewives Shop at Hastings Bakery!’’ 100 % UNIONIZED